Page 21 of His Ex's Little Sister
9
Robin
I’m flying solo tonight.Barclay is in Amargosa Valley taking care of his grandmother, and won’t be back for at least a week. My waitress friend, Lacy, is keeping me company as the crowd has lightened up since happy hour ended anhourago.
“My feet are killing me,” Lacy whines, leaning a hip against the table closest to the stage as I get set up formygig.
“It may just be me, but those seven-inch heels seem mighty high for waitressing work,” Isayidly.
“These heels get me more tips than cowboy boots or comfy shoes, darling. A girl’sgottaeat.”
I look over at her. Lacy does not need heels or any other enhancement to make an impression on her male patrons. Not with perfectly perky cleavage, a stunning face that probably makes men hard just looking at her, and those long, long legs. But we’ve talked about this before, and there’s noconvincingher.
“Get used to that throbbing in the balls of yourfeet,then.”
She flashes me a withering glare. “Just because your boy toy isn’t here tonight doesn’t mean you gotta be sowoundup.”
“Who? Barclay? He’s not my boy toy. Or my boyfriend. We’re friends. We just sing and make musictogether.”
“And it’s downright beautiful music, allright.”
“Thanks for saying that.” I smile. It means a lot getting good feedback. I’d give almost anything to write, perform for audiences who enjoy what we create, and record our songsfulltime.
“So you’resingle?”
“Yes. Very single and I’d like to keep it that way,” I tell her, and I’m being completely honest. After all the drama with my ex-boyfriend, Dave, I’m not ready to get back on the horse. I’ve got enough life lessons from him and from Danielle’s experiencewithReid.
Reid.
Cocky, overly confident, ridiculouslysexyReid.
Just thinking about him makes mycheeksburn.
No, thinking about Reid makes me want to accelerate my plan to go to Nashville. It’s a sure bet to put four entire states between us so that I never have to see his smug, arrogant face again. I know it sounds like an extreme measure, but I’m almost ready to do just about anything to talk myself off a ledge—the one that involves getting any closer to someonelikeReid.
It should be easy. It really should. I just have no explanation for what happens to me when I’m around him. My mind stops functioning, my body goes on autopilot, my breathing does its own damn thing, my skin tingles for God knows why, and my core. My core has no business acting the wayitdoes.
I won’t have to deal with all this lust-filled turmoil if we’re thousands of miles apart. Nashville seems like the best possible option. All I have to do is save a bit more money and stay the heck away from Reid. Starting with tonight’s gig. I remind myself why I’m here. To smile and be friendly with the patrons, put on a good show, and sing my heart out like my life depends on it. Oh, and to collect my tips at the end ofmyset.
Of course, this is Reid and his buddies’ regular watering hole, so I should be ready to see him walk in the front dooranytime.
Like this verysecond.
The bell above the front door chimes. In walks Reid and two of his buddies. And there goes my stomach, all in knots. Dammit. It doesn’t help that he ambles in wearing a black muscle shirt and dark jeans that show off every muscle in his arms, chest, abs and thighs from across the room. Or that when our eyes connect, I have to press my thighs together to stop the reaction that spreads through my center, as though he reached out and physicallytouchedme.
Lacy must notice that I’ve completely stopped tuning my guitar and am staring like a deer in the headlights. She looks back and forth between me and the approaching wall of men. “Honey, you may be single, but I don’t think you will beforlong.”
“What?Whynot?”
She motions with her chin at Reid and his friends, who take a seat at a table closer to the bar. “Just ahunch.”
“Trust me. I don’t plan on cozying up with anyone, least of all from around here. I’ve got zero luckwithmen.”
“Whatever you do, keep your paws offJaden.”
“Who?”
“Jaden Pratt. The blond one who usually comes in with them. It’s just Leo, Beau, and Reid coming in right now, but Jaden usually joins them. Speaking of, have you and Reid…dated orsomething?”
